As many of you know the months of April and May were chocka-block full of business travel for me. I crossed the huge Canadian landscape more than once, my travels took me to (in no particular order): London ON, Quebec City QC, Halifax NS, Calgary AB, Victoria BC, Toronto ON and Montreal QC. I am a seasoned business traveller with a NEXUS card (which fast tracks you through Canadian security, even though that is not it's primary function). I know how to pack my take on tolietries, how to put my belongings in the trays and which bits of clothing you can keep wearing when going through the scanner, even down to what jewelry will set off the alarm.
Imagine my surprise then at 6.30am in the London ON airport where the only passengers going through security were my business collegue and I. She went first, no problem. I set off the alarm and was told that I had been "randomly" picked for "additional" security. The officer solemnly explained that I had a choice of one of three additional security measure. The first choice was a pat down by a female officer. The second choice was a trip through the full body scanner.
The third choice (I kid you not) was a palm swab of both hands.
Huh?
No prizes for guessing my answer to the daunting choice.
I've been "palm swabbed" now at least 10 times.
ReplyDeleteAnd my laptop has endured the same swabbing.
Because we all know that overweight, white, middle aged, female, business travelers are highly likely to have handled explosive materials on their way to the airport....
Aargh!
I keep telling you, "Get a Burhka."
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth is the point of a palm swab on its own? If someone packed your bomb for you and you took it on board, either knowingly or unwittingly, you wouldn't have handled it. If it is used in conjunction with a search of your luggage it might make sense, but on its own?!
ReplyDeleteI'm gobsmacked. LMAO but gobsmacked. I love Israeli security more and more - even when it is intrusive. At lest it makes sense.
Stupid low theatre for the masses and Corporate America's bottom lone- the only possible cause of death in London, Ontario would be boredom.
ReplyDeleteHere's how airport security is done properly:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1336571/Terrorism-Can-really-stop-bomber-asking-Are-terrorist.html
/apologies for the Daily Mail source, but it's so good that I passed it along to a Transport Canada security mate for his edification.
Good grief Fay, how ridiculous! I don't blame you for choosing the swab; I would've too. I'm sure that the world will be safer place now that you've been tested for bomb residue. Yep. 8-}
ReplyDeleteI keep telling you, "Get a Burhka."
ReplyDeleteLMAO! While crying, actually.
Jaysus, it was just this morning I was watching a video of the TSA groping a woman who finally yelled and called for the cops. When the @#$%^ are we going to start profiling?
Stupid, effing a$$es.
Earl's link.
I'm gobsmacked. LMAO but gobsmacked. I love Israeli security more and more - even when it is intrusive. At lest it makes sense.
ReplyDeleteRight on, annie. That's what I meant in my profiling comment.b Why DON'T we adopt a system that works? I guess CAIR might be offended or perhaps it makes TOO MUCH sense for the govt to do that.
Earl:"the only possible cause of death in London, Ontario would be boredom."
ReplyDeleteLMAO!